Friday, March 25, 2016

Learning Ways

You Tube Channel



There are many video clips on You Tube, some of them better than others.

I don't claim mine are the best, but I have added my voice to the internet.  Everyone learns differently and the recent influx of new weavers, either via rigid heddle looms or baby wraps means that the population of weavers has dramatically increased and the average age has dropped.  Which, don't get me wrong, is A Good Thing!  If we don't recruit new younger weavers, the craft really might begin to die out - and that would be a great pity imho.

But rather than paint *all* video clips on You Tube and *all* dvd's as being bad, people should view them, take them with a grain of salt, but most of all, learn as much as they can from them.

In my opinion there is nothing better than learning from a live human being, but if you don't have the budget, or are too geographically removed or tied down with family committments to be able to take a class, then books, video clips and dvds are a valid way to learn.

We all do things differently because we all have different strengths and weaknesses.  We all have different abilities.  We learn in different ways.  Some can learn by reading, some by watching, some by doing, some by all three.

All I hope is that, at the end of the day, what I have done helps someone somewhere.  From the messages I get from people, I think I have helped some people make progress along the road of learning.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've learned a LOT from you Laura. I've watched all of your videos and I have your wet finishing DVD as well. My one complaint is that your warping valet video is called 'warping mats'. One has difficulty finding it among all the other weaving vids. That one video opened up a door for me. I was very frustrated prior to viewing it. At the time I had a 25 inch table loom, but I applied the principal to it and it worked. SO the frustration early on vanished.

I hope you find the time and patience to put out a book on weaving. Your emphasis on efficiency is quite unique, very logical and a necessity if one wishes to become proficient at the craft. I'm just a hobbyist but having fun learning while creating useful cloth. I still have a great deal to learn but the tricks and aids I've picked up from you here on your blog, and through your videos, are priceless to me. I try to pass them on wherever I can. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us Laura. I'm also very thankful for the internet, because even if we can't sit at the feet of the masters, we can still communicate with them and learn from them. And you are one of those masters! Thank you. And keep up the beautiful works of functional art!

All the best,
Tom Z. in IL USA

Peg Cherre said...

I, too, have learned lots from you, Laura. Although I recently moved from the true sticks into the city and can now take weaving classes, I'm positive that I'll also continue to use the internet - and you - as a resource. Often fits my style better than long workshops or formal classes.

Your generosity with your time and talents is greatly appreciated.